March 2026 Inside the Institute Newsletter

"Having the power to cause changes"

A recent news report on St. Patrick’s Day reminded me about the tiny amount of dye needed to color the Chicago River bright green and the accidental origins of that tradition. 

While chance encounters can occasionally inspire new research and educational paths, the Institute’s mission to improve the human condition is primarily driven by deliberate, visible efforts to effect positive change.

Importantly, like “influencer lives” on social media platforms, the Institute brings together influential folks with interdisciplinary and complementary interests through various venues to move us toward our vision of an environment where we achieve synergistic outcomes at the interfaces of the life and molecular sciences. 

Thus, we are fortunate to make use of university support to pursue a dynamic environment providing pathways to unexplored frontiers that cut across a multitude of disciplinary boundaries and lead to new destinations and unprecedented knowledge.

Our unwavering approach is guided by the Institute’s Foresee (4C) Strategic Framework, whose application cultures transdisciplinary initiatives; collaborates across boundaries; catalyzes activities; and communicates outcomes and impact.

There is fantastic evidence for great success in the Institute community regarding the four facets of this framework in the highlights below, especially when it comes to influential folks collaborating to make purposeful change.

• For example, it is exciting to see the Macromolecules Innovation Institute collaborating with VT MADE to help investigators establish new interdisciplinary extramural funding avenues
• On the culturing front, who would have imagined that the “hotness” (nope, no mogging here) of peppers is affected by local bird populations.
• Furthering enthusiasm is the new Infectious Disease Pathogens Podcast catalyzed by CeZAP’s annual research symposium keynote speaker and the hard work of students in the Infectious Disease Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program. 
• And if that is not enough, the Institute's own Felicia Spencer effectively communicates amazing results from Translational Plant Sciences Center researchers and those at campuses across the globe regarding microbe-catalyzed formation of ice crystals.
• Finally, it is rewarding to see the long-term innovative and impactful work of Institute affiliates recognized by the National Academy of Innovators and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

Of course, the stories in this newsletter represent a mere sampling of the hard work, commitment, creativity, and intellect of the many affiliates helping pave the way to global distinction. 

It is amazing to have such an influential investigator community, and the Institute is fortunate to support them via Virginia Tech’s commitment to sustain and grow their outcomes and impact in new directions.

Let's go Hokies, and let’s go FLSI!

P.S. March’s edition of the Fralin Fiddler crossword puzzle can be found here; solutions will be posted next month! Navigate here for answers to the February 2026 edition.